Still sore, Britton won't be rushed by O's

By Chris Girandola / Special to MLB.com

SARASOTA, Fla. -- Orioles manager Buck Showalter said that left-hander Zach Britton, sidelined with left shoulder inflammation, would not pitch on Monday in a Minor League game. The plan had called for Britton, who has not pitched in a Major League game this spring, to make his first appearance, but Showalter said the 24-year-old "came up a little sore."

Showalter said that Britton felt good after throwing two innings and 31 pitches in a Triple-A game on Thursday, but soreness developed Saturday.

"He called [trainer Richie Bancells] last night, and we were waiting to see what it was like today," Showalter said. "It was a little sore. He was scheduled to start tomorrow, and won't."

Dr. John Wilckens, the team orthopedist, examined Britton's shoulder, and the staff decided to adjust his timetable.

"I think there's some inflammation in there," Showalter said. "Dr. Wilckens doesn't think it's anything serious, but it's just something that you have to manage."

Showalter does not want to speculate on Britton's status at the end of Spring Training, but the lefty's spot in the rotation come Opening Day is in jeopardy.

"Let's see where we are on Tuesday," Showalter said. "Let's not jump the gun on it. We'd like to see him recover from his work day a little better."

Keeping Wada healthy Orioles' priority

SARASOTA, Fla. -- Making his first appearance in the United States, Orioles left-hander Tsuyoshi Wada allowed one run on one hit and struck out three over two innings on Sunday afternoon in Baltimore's 2-2 tie with the Braves at Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

Atlanta's run off Wada came in the seventh inning, when Joey Terdoslavich came home on a fielder's-choice groundout after hitting a leadoff double.

The Orioles had anticipated getting Wada into a game earlier this spring, but after the 31-year-old first complained of left elbow inflammation in February, the organization opted to delay his official Grapefruit League debut until this weekend.

After receiving a cortisone shot earlier this week, Wada pitched in a simulated game on Wednesday.

Manager Buck Showalter would not rule out Wada working becoming a part of the Orioles' starting rotation, though the first step is to have the lefty come out of Sunday's outing healthy.

The typical progression for an injured pitcher would be to go from a simulated game to a Minor League outing, but the Orioles were impressed that Wada chose to face big league hitters instead.

"We gave him the option," Showalter said. "We were hoping he would pick Atlanta. We want to expose him to everything as much as possible. You're going to get exposed to things that you wouldn't in a [simulated] game and in a Minor League game."

Orioles mourn passing of Philley

SARASOTA, Fla. -- The Orioles announced that Dave Philley, who played for the O's from 1955-56 and '60-61 during his 18-year career, passed away on Thursday in his hometown of Paris, Texas. He was 91.

Philley had been the oldest living former Orioles player. His good friend Eddie Robinson -- coincidentally also from Paris, Texas -- replaces Philley as the longest living Oriole. Robinson played four games for the O's in 1957.

Philley holds an American League record for pinch-hits with 24, set during the 1961 season.

Bird bits

 Jake Arrieta will start Monday's Minor League game and pitch four innings. The rest of the Major Leaguers will have the day off.

 Orioles pitching prospect Mike Wright, the team's third-round Draft pick last year, did not allow a run in 2 1/3 innings of relief during Sunday night's 6-3 win over the Yankees. Wright had four strikeouts, including one of Mark Teixeira.

 Manny Machado -- rated the sixth-best prospect in baseball by MLB.com -- made his second straight start on Sunday afternoon and went 1-for-3 with a run-scoring single.

 Making his third start of the spring, newly acquired right-hander Jason Hammel allowed one run and one hit, striking out five and walking one, over 4 2/3 innings against the Braves. Hammel has surrendered two runs in 9 2/3 innings over those three outings.

 Orioles left fielder Nolan Reimold was scheduled to play on Sunday afternoon because his wife was scheduled to deliver their baby in Jacksonville, Fla., which is closer to Lake Buena Vista than Sarasota, Fla., where a second O's squad hosted the Yankees on Sunday night. The delivery was successful, and Showalter gave Reimold two extra days to be with his wife. Reimold will be back in the lineup on Tuesday at Sarasota against the Phillies.

 Former O's infielder Mike Bordick made his MASN broadcasting debut on Sunday night. Bordick admitted to being nervous heading into the game.

Chris Girandola is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.